Soaking hay is helping his cough - yay!!

[Porkie]

Thanks to anyone who has answered my various silly questions about soaking hay recently!

Just thought I'd let you know that finally my chappie is agreeing to eat soaked hay (tried months ago but he flatly refused and would just leave it all!) and after quite a few weeks of his cough being really bad and me worrying myself silly that he was struggling to breath when I worked him (he's 26 and no work is not an option either as he gets stiff and very grumpy!! ) - after just 3 days on soaked hay things are looking up!

Haven't had a lesson in weeks as couldn't work him long enough to make it worth it, but had a lesson last night and he was fab! We started off just doing bending exercises but once we found he was going well we did canter poles and he was pinging around all over the place, flying changes the lot with only a few odd coughs but not really bad ones! Think he really enjoyed it, as did I!! Although instructor said my position has gone to pot

as I am anticipating him coughing and tipping forward, bugga must work on that!!

So, to anyone who is suffering from the frustrating 'coughs' at the mo ............ yes, soaked hay does definitely seem to be making a difference - now he is eating it!!!

 

[Chumsmum]

It works on my boy too

It's no so bad in the summer when he's not eating as much but I'd had enough by the end of last winter carrying wet hay in the freezing cold - might change to haylege next winter

 

[Porkie]

hmmmm - hadn't thought about what it will be like when I am jumping around in freezing cold water in the winter!! Still, guess if it works will have no choice !!

Tried horsehage, and as much as he luuurves it we have a wee weight control issue so he couldn't have much then he was bored and hungry !!

Oh, how our horses are sent to try us! Not that I'd change him one bit of course!!

 

[Chumsmum]

Chum is known to enjoy his food *coughs* so not sure if my haylege plan will work.

I'm going to take him out a fair bit hunting etc so I'm hoping that the exercise will keep the weight down....

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Steaming works just as well and is much easier in the winter, when the water freezes!!

Place hay in dustbin (or container with tightly fitting lid). Pour over a kettle of boiling water, and replace lid. Leave to steam for 10mins.